Strap Pads for Flip-Flops

ABSTRACT

A strap pad provides a modification to open type shoes known as flip-flops, sandals, or any footwear that incorporate a strap to hold a foot to the sole of a shoe. As the strap stretches and/or the sole compresses from use, the foot fits loosely between the strap and the sole of the shoe. The strap pad is fixed to the underside of the strap so the foot fits snuggly between the strap pad and the sole. The strap pad may fit completely under the strap so it is hidden from view. The strap pad may be fixed to the strap using adhesive, a snap fastener, or a hook-and-loop fastener.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates pads and cushions that fit under straps of flip-flops, sandals, and other open type footwear to provide a snug fit for the wearer.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Flip-flops, shower shoes, sandals, and other open type footwear typically incorporate a strap that holds the foot to the sole of the footwear but otherwise leave much of the foot exposed to air. Flip-flops are usually made of a rubber sole with a Y-shaped strap that is fixed to the rear sides and the front of the sole. The front of the strap generally goes between the toes of the wearer. Shower shoes are more of a slipper in which the strap holding the sole to the foot is a thick piece of rubber or cloth that crosses the top of the foot perpendicular to the sole.

SUMMARY

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a method is provided for modifying an open type shoe having a sole and a strap that holds a foot to the sole. The method includes attaching a “strap pad” to an underside of the strap so the foot fits snuggly between the strap pad and the sole. The method may be performed by a consumer after the purchase of the open type shoe when the strap becomes stretched and/or the sole becomes compressed from use.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a footwear package includes an open type shoe having a sole and a strap that holds a foot to the sole, and a number of strap pads attachable to an underside of the strap so the foot fits snuggly between a strap pad and the sole. Each strap pad has a shape that matches the strap so the strap pad fits completely under the strap.

In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a package of strap pads is provided for an open type shoe comprising a sole and a strap that hold a foot to the sole. The package includes a number of strap pads attachable to an underside of the strap so the foot fits snuggly between a strap pad and the sole. At least two strap pads are of the same shape but different thicknesses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a top view of a pair of open type shoes;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a foot in the shoe of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the shoes of FIG. 1 with strap pads attached to underside of straps of the shoes;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of a foot in the shoe of FIG. 1 with the strap pad;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a strap pad;

FIG. 6 shows a package including pairs of strap pads;

FIG. 7 shows a package including a pair of open type shoes and pairs of strap pads;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a strap and a strap pad using a snap fastener;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a strap and a strap pad using a hook-and-loop fastener, all arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure

Use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a top view of a pair of open type shoes 100, such as flip-flops, shower shows, sandals, or other types of open type shoes. Each shoe 100 has a sole 102 and a strap 104 that holds a foot to the sole. In the particular example shown in FIG. 1, strap 104 is a Y-shaped strap that is fixed to the front and the rear sides of sole 102. Strap 104 includes a toe post 106 that passes between the first and the second toes, and two elongated strips 108 that wrap around the sides of the foot. Alternatively strap 104 may be a single wide strip over the front of the foot.

When new, shoes 100 fit to the feet snugly and are comfortable to the wearer. After a short time, sometimes within hours, shoes 100 break in to the wearer's feet and become loose.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a foot 202 in shoe 100 with a space 204 between strap 104 and the top of the foot. The loose fit causes shoes 100 to fly off when walking normally, which leads to embarrassment, inconvenience, and even injury. To prevent shoes 100 from taking flight, the wearer tends to curl their toes to keep the shoes on. The toe-curling causes injuries to the plantar fascia, the connective tissue that runs from heel to toe. It also causes inflammation and pain along the sole of the foot, and creates heel spurs and overall tired feet. The wearer then overcompensates by changing his or her gait, taking shorter strides and turning their ankles inward to keep shoes 100 from falling off. Over time, this can cause long-term foot, ankle, and hip problems due to the lack of solid foot and ankle support. In addition, people with flat feet or high arches can aggravate old problems and do long-term, serious damage by wearing loose, open type shoes.

Some more expensive open type shoes have arch supports or other foot molded sole shapes that may help to address the problem. However these features stop working once the strap has stretched and/or the soles has compressed to the wearer's foot shape. Many flip-flops cost upwards of $50 to $75 per pair and sandals can cost hundreds of dollars. Thus, what are needed are methods and apparatus that allow open type shoes to fit better, last longer, and be more comfortable.

A strap pad, also referred to as a “strap cushion” or a “flip strip,” is a piece of comfortable and durable material that is fixed to the underside of a strap on an open type shoe. The strap pad compensates for the space left when the shoe has been broken-in and no longer fits as snugly as it did when it was new. The strap pad may also compensate for a shoe that is too large when purchased new. Attaching a strap pad is an inexpensive and indiscernible way to make a shoe fit better. The strap pad not only extends the life of the shoe but may also keep wearers from curling their toes and injuring themselves or from losing their shoes as they walk and injuring themselves.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of shoes 100 with strap pads 302 (shown in phantom) attached to the undersides of straps 104 of the shoes in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. For a Y-shaped strap 104, a strap pad 302 is provided for each strip 108. Strap pads 302 may have the shape of a quadrilateral, such as trapezoid, parallelogram, or a rectangle. Alternatively, a single V-shaped strap pad that spans across strips 108 may be used. Furthermore, a single rectangular strap pad may be used with an open type shoe with a single strap across the front of the foot.

In one or more embodiment, strap pads 302 are specifically made for a particular pair of shoes 100. Each strap pad 302 has a shape that matches the shape of strap 104 at the strap pad's attachment location so the strap pad fits substantially or completely fit under the strap. Alternatively, strap pad 302 has a generic shape that is trimmed by the wearer using scissors or a knife to match strap 104. Strap pad 302 may have a variety of thicknesses (e.g., thin, medium, thick) to accommodate a variety of foot sizes.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of foot 202 in shoe 100 with strap pad 302 in the shoe in one or more embodiment of the present disclosure. As can be seen, strap pad 302 removes any space 204 (FIG. 2) between strap 104 and foot 202, thereby providing a snug fit for the wearer's foot between the strap pad 302 and sole 102.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of strap pad 302 in one or more embodiment of the present disclosure. Strap pad 302 includes a cushion body 502, a layer of adhesive 504 on top of the cushion body, and a backing 506 on top of the adhesive layer. Cushion body 502 may be a single layer of material or multiple layers of different materials. The bottom surface of cushion body 502 may be contoured to provide a comfortable fit against the top of foot 202.

After a wearer purchases and breaks in shoes 100, the wearer may attach strap pad 302 to the underside of strap 104. The wearer first removes backing 506 from adhesive layer 504 and then applies the adhesive layer to the underside of strap 104 at a proper attachment location where the strap substantially or completely covers strap pad 302. The wearer may also trim strap pad 302 to match the shape of strap 104.

Flip flops, sandals, and other open type shoes are preferred when visiting beaches, rivers, lakes, pools, and other recreational areas involving water activities. Thus, these open type shoes often get wet and they are generally worn without socks. Flip flops and sandals are also mostly made of rubber and/or leather, and both of these materials generate a substantial amount of perspiration in the foot area as the foot is directly adjacent to the rubber or leather. Considering the above, strap pad 302 is made with materials that are durable, comfortable, breathable, and/or waterproof. These qualities allow strap pad 302 to stand up to a wet environment while delivering comfort to the user. In one or more embodiments, cushion body 502 may be foam, sponge, rubber, neoprene, or cloth (e.g., felt). In one or more embodiments, strap pads 302 of a variety of different materials can be provided to a wearer and the wear selects a strap pad based on the intended use for shoes 100.

FIG. 6 shows a package 600 including strap pads in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Package 600 may be a board that includes strap pads of different shapes. For example, package 600 includes strap pads 602 that are parallelograms and strap pads 604 and 606 that are rectangular (less than all are labeled for clarity). Package 600 may include strap pads of the same shape but different sizes. For example, rectangular strap pads 604 are smaller than rectangular strap pads 606. Package 600 may also include strap pads of different thicknesses. For example, package 600 includes a section 612 of strap pads 602, 604, and 606 of a thin thickness, a section 614 of strap pads 602, 604, and 606 of a medium thickness, and a section 616 of strap pads 602, 604, and 606 of a thick thickness.

Package 600 may be manufactured in a batch process where a large sheet of cushion body material (e.g., foam, rubber, or neoprene) is coated with adhesive, a large sheet of backing material is applied to the adhesive to form a sandwich board of cushion body, adhesive, and backing materials, and the shapes of the strap pads are stamped out in the sandwich board. The large sheet of cushion body material may have sections of different thicknesses to form strap pads of different thicknesses.

FIG. 7 shows a footwear package 700 including a pair of open type shoes 100 and strap pads 302 in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Package 700 may be a board that includes strap pads 302 of different thicknesses. For example, package 700 includes a section 702 of strap pads 302 of a thin thickness, a section 704 of strap pads 302 of a medium thickness, and a section 706 of strap pads 302 of a thick thickness.

Package 700 may be manufactured in a batch process where the material for soles 102 and cushion body 502 are the same. A large sheet of the sole and cushion body material is provided. An area of the body material is coated with adhesive, a sheet of backing material is applied to the area with the adhesive, and the shapes of the strap pads 302 are stamped out in the area with the adhesive and backing materials while the shapes of soles 102 are stamped out in another area without the adhesive and backing materials. The large sheet of sole and cushion body material may have sections of different thicknesses to form strap pads of different thicknesses. Straps 104 are then attached to soles 102.

Although self-adhesive cushion straps are described above, other mechanisms for attaching a cushion strap to the underside of a strap may be used. FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a strap 802 of an open type shoe and a strap pad 804 using snap fasteners 806 in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Each snap fastener 806 includes two halves 808 and 810, a stud and a socket. Halves 808 are fixed adhesively or mechanically (e.g., by sewing or attaching fixtures) to the underside of strap 802 and halves 810 are fixed mechanically or adhesively to the top of cushion strap 804. Cushion strap 804 is then snapped onto the underside of strap 802 to interlock snap fasteners 806.

Halves 808 may be sold as part of a package including strap pad 804 with halves 810 preinstalled on the strap pad. Halves 808 may be self-adhesive so the wearer would remove a backing from an adhesive topside and then adhere the topside of halves 808 to the underside of strap 802. Alternatively an open type shoe may be preinstalled with halves 808.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a strap 902 of an open type shoe and a strap pad 904 using a hook-and-loop fastener 906 in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Hook-and-loop fastener 906 includes two components, a strip 908 of hooks and a strip 910 of loops. Strip 908 is fixed adhesively or mechanically (e.g., by sewing) to the underside of strap 902 and strip 910 is fixed adhesively or mechanically to the top of cushion strap 904, or vice versa. The top of cushion strap 904 is then applied to the underside of strap 902 to interlock strips 908 and 910 of hook-and-loop fastener 906.

Strip 908 may be sold as part of a package including strap pad 904 with strip 910 preinstalled on the strap pad. Strip 908 may be self-adhesive so the wearer would remove a backing from an adhesive topside and then adhere the topside of strip 908 to the underside of strap 902. Alternatively an open type shoe may be preinstalled with strip 908.

Various other adaptations and combinations of features of the embodiments disclosed are within the scope of the invention. Numerous embodiments are encompassed by the following claims. 

1: A method for modifying an open type shoe comprising a sole and a strap that holds a foot to the sole, the method comprising: attaching a strap pad to an underside of the strap so the foot fits snuggly between the strap pad and the sole. 2: The method of claim 1, wherein the open type shoe comprises a flip-flop or a sandal and said attaching occurs after a purchase of the open type shoe. 3: The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the strap pad from a plurality of strap pads of different thicknesses. 4: The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the strap pad from a plurality of strap pads of different shapes, the strap pad fitting completely under the strap. 5: The method of claim 1, wherein said attaching comprises: adhering an adhesive topside of the strap pad to the underside of the strap. 6: The method of claim 1, wherein said attaching comprises: interlocking a first half of a snap fastener on the underside of the strap and a second half of the snap fastener on a topside of the strap pad. 7: The method of claim 1, wherein a topside of the strap pad comprises a first component of the hook-and-loop fastener, and said attaching comprises: adhering an adhesive underside of a second component of a hook-and-loop fastener to the underside of the strap; and interlocking the second component of the hook-and-loop fastener to the first component of the hook-and-loop fastener. 8: The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to said attaching, trimming the strip cushion so the strap pad fits completely under the strap. 9: A footwear package, comprising: an open type shoe comprising a sole and a strap that holds a foot to the sole; and a plurality of strap pads attachable to an underside of the strap so the foot fits snuggly between a strap pad and the sole, each strap pad comprising a shape that matches the strap so the strap pad fits completely under the strap. 10: The package of claim 9, wherein the strap pads have different thicknesses. 11: The package of claim 9, wherein each strap pad comprises a shape of a quadrilateral. 12: The package of claim 9, wherein each cushion body comprises a waterproof material. 13: The package of claim 9, wherein each strap pad comprises a cushion body, a layer of adhesive on a topside of the cushion body, and a backing over the adhesive. 14: The package of claim 9, wherein: the shoe further comprises a first half of a snap fastener fixed to the underside of the strap; and each strap pad comprises a cushion body and a second half of the snap fastener fixed to a topside of the cushion body. 15: The package of claim 9, wherein: a topside of the strap pad comprises a first component of a hook-and-loop fastener; and the underside of the strap comprises a second component of the hook-and-loop fastener. 16: A package of strap pads for an open type shoe comprising a sole and a strap that holds a foot to the sole, the package comprising: a plurality of strap pads attachable to an underside of the strap so the foot fits snuggly between a strap pad and the sole, at least two strap pads being of a same shape but different thicknesses. 17: The package of claim 16, wherein at least two strap pads are of different shapes of a same thickness. 18: The package of claim 16, wherein each strap pad comprises a cushion body, a layer of adhesive on a topside of the cushion body, and a backing over the adhesive. 19: The package of claim 16, wherein: the shoe further comprises a first half of a snap fastener fixed to the underside of the strap; and each strap pad comprises a cushion body and a second half of the snap fastener fixed to a topside of the cushion body. 20: The package of claim 16, wherein: a topside of the strap pad comprises a first component of a hook-and-loop fastener; and the underside of the strap comprises a second component of the hook-and-loop fastener. 